Tengointernet

[Tom Donaldson]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">While satellite is still the best service to ensure you will have a connection most anywhere you travel, the bandwidth IS shared. As a matter of fact, it is most likely the MOST over-loaded bandwidth you can buy </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

True, it is shared. But I have generally gotten much better performance out of HughesNet than out of campground WiFi. Generally when I have had problems with HughesNet it has been more a matter of getting NO access rather than slow access. And that has generally been because of equipment problems or obstructions.

When I first started using HugheNet in 2004, congestion was much more of a problem. It seems to be letting up. I believe they have been putting up new satellites, or leasing space on new satellites. I'm on a satellite that has supposedly only been up a short while, and I am getting much better performance than I did out of SatMex5 or whatever it is at longitude 99.

My 10Mbps cable Internet service from Charter Communications is also shared, but usage by my neighbors is low compared to the available bandwidth (16Mbps is available, but I haven't found the need, yet). The problem there is that as my neighbors start downloading movies and such, my share of the bandwidth will go down. Right now the major problem is that Charter is on the verge of bankruptcy and has problems maintaining their system. Service is down far more than was the HughesNet service.

Pretty much by its nature all Internet is shared. My bad.

[Tom Donaldson]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I am getting much better performance than I did out of SatMex5 or whatever it is at longitude 99. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Excuse me: "... AND whatever it is at longitude 99."

[Bill Adams]

Your satellite internet connection is a shared connection exactly the same as your cable connection and that was my point.
If lots of folks on your satellite go on-line your speeds will slow down exactly the same as your cable connection would. It just hasn't happened to you yet. If the usage of your "satellite neighbors" is low your service will remain very good as well. However, if that goes the other way your service will slow down dramatically. Hughes balances their satellites in hopes that most users are light users.
Not all internet connections are shared in a way that excess usage would cause slow downs and have guaranteed service speeds. DSL and T1 lines are examples of these.
I am not sure what satellite you are on now, but SM5 is at 117 and G16 (formerly G4R) is at 99.